When 58-year-old mother of two Alice Tan Ridley entered the America’s Got Talent stage, her narrative captivated both the judges and the crowd right away. Alice had been performing in New York City subway stations for more than 20 years. She pursued her lifelong passion of becoming a professional singer while sharing her gift with commuters and making them smile. It’s interesting to note that Alice is also the mother of Oscar-nominated actress Gabourey Sidibe, but she made it plain that, despite her daughter’s fame, she was there to finally have her own moment in the spotlight.
As soon as Alice started singing the iconic song “At Last” by Etta James, her powerful voice and emotional delivery changed the entire audience. Few singers can match the depth and richness of her voice, which she developed over decades of singing in the underground. She hit every famous note with such ease that the judges sat in startled silence, demonstrating that her talent was too great for the subway platforms she had lived on for twenty years. The unadulterated passion and victory of her performance caused the audience to explode in a standing ovation.
The panel’s comments were nothing short of legendary. Howie Mandel said she was shocked that millions of people have passed her in the subway without someone signing her to a record deal, while Piers Morgan said it was the best audition of the day in terms of “raw talent.” Alice was immediately dispatched to Las Vegas following three emphatic “Yes” votes. Her experience is a potent reminder that genuine talent will ultimately show itself and that desires never go unfulfilled.
